Sink retaining structure



May 15, 1962 G. A. LYON 3,034,142

sINx RETAINING STRUCTURE Filed July 1'7, 1959 2 l qj INVENTOR Geb/ye /er Lyon nited States The present invention relates to improvements in sink constructions and more particularly concerns improved means for retaining a combination sink and supporting frame strip ring flange in assembly with a counter top.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improved means for retaining in assembly on a counter top a sink and a supporting frame strip flange structure.

Another object of the invention isto provide a novel sink retaining frame flange strip and retaining clip assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient retaining clip for sink retaining structures, embodiying a novel resilient clamping coaction of the clip with the other components of the assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a sink installation embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional detailed view taken substantially on the line II--Il Yof FrGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional detailed view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the parts in process of being assembled; and

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of one of the spring retaining clips.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a counter top 5 of any preferred construction such as wood with a hard veneer surface laminate 7 thereon such as a thermosetting plastic, has an opening 8 therein within which a sink 9 is received. Herein the sink 9 is of the type which may be pressed from heavy gauge steel and then coated with vitreous enamel or other suitable coating. Such sink has on its upper end a laterally outwardly projecting rigid and in the present instance straight rim flange 1G which is received in clearance gap relation within the counter top opening 8,

For retaining the sink 9 in assembled relation with the counter top 5, a supporting rim flange frame strip 11 is provided in ring form and made from suitable material such as stainless steel strip, with an upwardly arched body formation including an outer margin 12 providing an edge engaging upon the counter top 5, andan inner margin provided with an underturned angular generally L-shaped seating and centering ange 13 for engagement with the margin and edge of the sink rim ange 1li. It will be observed that on its upper side the inner marginal flange 13 provides an upwardly facing ledge-like shoulder and defines with the overlying body of the frame strip member 11 an outwardly opening groove.

For clampingly securing the sink rim ange 1t) to the shoulder 13 of the frame member and for clamping the frame member against the counter top, resiliently flexible retaining spring clips 14 are provided which are disposed at suitable spaced intervals about the perimeter of the sink rim flange 10. Each of the spring clips 14 is made of a single piece of resilient material such as suitable gauge spring steel in a strip of suitable length and width and shaped into substantially S form. Through this arrangement the clip is provided with a generally hookshaped upper loop portion 15 and a lower loop portion 17 each having a common, connecting clip body portion tet 18. This provides a terminal clamping ange 19 as a free arm or leg of the upper loop 15 engageable clampingly upon the shoulder 13. A free leg or arm 20 of the lower clip loop 2li is constructed and arranged to engage clampingly against the underside of the counter top 5. Between the lower clamping arm 2t) and the intermediate body portion 18 of the clip an upwardly facing and olfset 'clamping shoulder 21 is formed to engage the undersurface of the sink rim ange 10.

Normally the spring clip loops 15 and 17 are sprung apart substantially as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein a clearance gap is afforded between the clip arm 19 and the clamping shoulder 21 to enable rocking assembly of the clip arm 19 with the shoulder 13. Moreover, the lower clamping clip arm 2t) extends downwardly into substautial spaced relation below the clip body portion 18. Thereby the arm 2i) serves as a convenient handle for manipulating the clip 14 into position in the assembly which may be effected with the counter top 5, the sink 9 and the frame strip 11 inverted, or in upright position as preferred.

For drawing up the clip 14 into clamping retaining engagement with the sink and the counter top, suitable manipulable means are provided, in the present instance comprising a bolt 22 having the lower portion thereof threaded and extending through a longitudinally elongated clearance Slot 23 in the lower clamping leg 20.

On its upper extremity the bolt 22 has ahead 24, and i below the head a square section shank portion 25 which extends through aligned respective square holes 27 and 28 in respectively the upper arm 19 and the bodyl of the clip. In the normal sprung open condition of the loops of the clip 14, the lower threaded end of the bolt 22 projects sufficiently below the lower arm 2t) of the clip to receive thereon a wing nut 29. Although the bolt 22 must, of course, be assembled with the clip 14 before the clip is placed into the initially assembled relation with the sink and counter top, the wing nut 29 may be started onto the threaded shank section of the bolt before or after such initial assembly of the clip with the sink and counter is effected. In any event, after preliminary assembly of the several clips with the sink and counter top, together with the supporting frame 11 has been effected the clips and the bolts assembled therewith will remain in position until the wing nuts 29 are run up on the threaded shank to tighten the clip.

In drawing the wing nut 29 up on the threaded shank of the bolt 22, a cramping, tensioning coaction between the bolt head 24 and the wing nut occurs on the clip loops wherein the lower and longer and normally further deflected arm 20 of the clip is drawn toward the body portion 13 of the clip and toward the underside of the counter top 5 and acts as a tensioning lever to drive the clamping shoulder 21 firmly against the underside of the sink rim flange 1t) and by the thrust thus imposed on the rim ange driving it tightly against the shoulder ange 13 of the frame member 11 upon the upper side of which the clamping leg 19 of the clip engages. In

eifect, of course, this is a clamping jaw action between the clip arm or leg 19 and the shoulder 21. Finally, a short and stitf terminal extremity angular ange 30 on the distal end of the lower clamping and tensioning lever 20 makes clamping engagement with the underside of the counter top 5 and in the continued tightening of the thumb nut 29 causes the upper clamping arm 19 of the clip to be' drawn down thus drawing the edge of the frame strip margin 12 tightly against the Yupper surface of the counter top into thorough sealing relation. By reason of the tensioned contraction of the spring clip 14 any shrinkage in the counter top clamped between the clip terminal 3i) and the frame striprnargin 12 will be compensated for and automatically taken up so that no looseness will develop in the assembly.

It may also be pointed out'` that the loop 15 of the clip which opposes the dge deni'ng the opening 8 in the Vcounter top serves as acenter'ing gauge for the molding frame strip 11 with respect to the opening 8 in the counter top,

, In its novel action, theV clip arm 2i? serves the dual functionv of a cramping lever thrusting Vthel clip shoulder 21t'oward the clamping arm '190i the clip coniined by the bolt'head 24, and asa clamping lever engaging the undeside of the counter top 5 by virtue of projecting out- Wardly a suicient distance beyond the clip loop V15 and thus coacting with the frame strip 11 as a clamping jaw.

It will be understood that'modiiications and variations may be eected withoutdeparting from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

Y v. claim as my invention: y In a sink structure including a counter top having a snk'opening and a sink in said opening having a lateral rim ange on its upper end, a retaining'frame ring memher having a margin engaging'said rim ange and including an underturned generally outwardly directed iiange seated 'on .the rim flange, the ring member'having an outer margin seated on the counter top, a generally f Sshaped resilient' type springretaining clip having' an upper loop and a lower loop with 'a com rnon connecting body'between the loops, the upper loop providing a generally inwardly extending upper terminal clamping iiange overlying and `exibly clampingly co'active with said'body toprovide ajaw'within which said underturned ange Vand'said rim flange are engaged, said lower loop having argenerally'outwardly extending free leg portion ,providing Va combination cramping and clamping lever'arin l which is resiliently flexibly movable relative to and with said body, and means carried by the clip and operating to draw said lever arm clampingly against the underside of the VVcounter top while at the same time drawing downwardly on said terminal clamping flange to pull said ring member iirmly against the counter top and cramping said body against the underside of the rim flange to eiect clamping engagement of said jaw upon said flange and the rim iiangc to hold them together, said terminal clamping iiange Vand said body and saidv arm having Valigned aperturesV and said means comprising atbolt having a head engaging said clamping iiange and a nut engaging Said arm, the bolt having a iiat face adjacent said head and said aperture in said clamping Harige being deiined by a dat edge engaging said Hat face of the bolt to hoid the bolt against turning.

References Cited in the ileof this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS Y Sept.' 20, 1898 610,967 1,007,675 Crane Nov. 7, 1911 1,049,476 Hathaway Ian. 7, 1913' 1,650,117 Dorn Nov. 22,1927 2,182,480 Lowry Dec. 5, 1939 2,213,234 Tinnerman Sept. 3, 1940 2,403,842r Bates -uly 9, 1946 VV2,582,816 Bonnell Jan. 15, 1952 2,593,064 Silberman 'Apr. l5, 1952 2,624,638 Lyon Jan. 6, 1953 2,765,397 Harris Oct.Y 2, 1956 2,790,181 McCarthy Apr. 30, 1957 2,840,829Y Hammer July 1, 1958 2,843,855 Hammer July 22, 1958 2,877,468 Lawson Mar. 17, 1959 2,992,436 Camp `Iuly 18, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3lo34,142 May 15, 1962 George Albert Lyon It is hereby certified that. error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant. lines 2 and 121 and in the heading to i the printed specification,I lines 3 and 4, for "Lyon Corporation"1 each occurrencec read m- Lyon Incorporated Signed and sealed this 28th day of August 192 (SEAL) Attest:

ESTON G. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

